More than three years after the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin offered Zelenskyy direct talks this week “without any preconditions.” Zelenskyy called Putin’s bluff — but added that Ukraine will only accept peace talks if the Kremlin agrees to a 30-day ceasefire, a proposal the United States made two months ago.
Russia appears unlikely to accept the ceasefire, but Zelenskyy may show up for the talks anyway.
“What the Americans are trying to do is to really keep the door open, so that Russia would come to the table. That’s maybe why they haven’t put too much pressure on Russia. But now, it has been over 60 days, and we need to see some other steps, so that you would see Putin around that negotiation table,” Kallas said Tuesday.
The Estonian former prime minister also stressed that nothing should be discussed about Ukraine without Ukraine. “If we see [Russia and the U.S.] agreeing to things that are completely unacceptable for Ukraine, or for Europe for that matter, then it can’t really, really fly,” she said.
